In a chilling development in the murder of elderly Kunjalata Nanda, the prime accused caretaker Balabhadra Maharana was brought back to the crime scene in Bhubaneswar’s Lakshmisagar area, where he demonstrated exactly how and under what circumstances he killed the woman.
Police said the caretaker, hired from Tangi in Khordha district to look after the elderly woman who lived alone, was arrested from Surat in Gujarat seven days after the crime. During interrogation under remand, he led police to the looted cash, gold jewellery and the stolen scooter. A related woman, Sabita Sethi (40) of Brahmagiri, was also arrested after the stolen items were recovered from her possession.
According to DCP Sarvana Vivek M, the recovered gold included 52 gold-coated cards estimated to be worth over ₹10 lakh, along with silver utensils, bangles, chains and cash. Sabita, who was previously acquainted with Balabhadra and had taken his son as her godson, was in regular phone contact with him. Police said she knowingly sheltered him and hid the stolen property after he confessed the murder and robbery to her.
Investigators revealed that after committing the murder, Balabhadra went home, changed his clothes, lied to family members about having another work assignment, and then travelled to Brahmagiri, where he handed over the entire loot to Sabita. The scooter was also left with her. She has been produced in court and charged with assisting in the escape and for retaining stolen property.
The case came to light on November 4 when tenants noticed the door locked from inside and alerted the family. Police broke open the grill door and found Kunjalata Nanda lying severely injured on the floor. She was declared dead later. Balabhadra remains in transit remand until November 16 as police continue to gather additional evidence.
